Board members on June 12 reviewed a proposed new division policy, P‑7‑03 (Math Pathways), the text of which implements recent state legislation requiring notification and, in certain cases, automatic enrollment into accelerated math pathways for students who fall into the state's top performance quartile.

Board Member Aileen Kinsella asked how the division will ensure students have the fundamentals necessary for success if they are moved into accelerated math. A staff presenter described the policy as implementing the legislative requirement and explained that placement decisions beyond the statutory trigger are intended to be collaborative. "The second portion of the policy... speaks to additional opportunities beyond that requirement in the legislation for students to enroll in advanced or accelerated math based on any of those items," a staff member said, noting that teachers, counselors and parents would be part of those conversations.

Officials cautioned that the state's process requires compiling statewide testing to determine quartiles, so the notification would be triggered after statewide testing is complete and the Virginia Department of Education returns cohort placement information to divisions. "It would only be triggered once all the testing is complete statewide... that notification would happen over the summer and there would be a quick turnaround," the staff member said. Board members asked whether the division could begin contacting parents if the state information arrived quickly; staff said yes, they could start outreach and counseling conversations with families prior to the board's formal adoption in August if necessary.

At the meeting staff emphasized that the division intends to provide remediation, differentiation and counseling supports for students who move into accelerated classes and that parents retain the option to decline an automatic placement under the policy's notification provisions. The presentation was a first review; staff said formal action on this and related legislative‑response policies is expected at the board's August meeting.